Natural Sciences (25%).
Questions in this category are
based on passages in the content areas of anatomy, astron-
omy, biology, botany, chemistry, ecology, geology, medicine,
meteorology, microbiology, natural history, physiology,
physics, technology, and zoology.
Prose Fiction (25%).
Questions in this category are based on
intact short stories or excerpts from short stories or novels.
Humanities (25%).
Questions in this category are based on
passages from memoirs and personal essays and in the
content areas of architecture, art, dance, ethics, film, lan-
guage, literary criticism, music, philosophy, radio, television,
and theater.
ACT Science Test
The Science Test is a 40-question, 35-minute test that
measures the interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning,
and problem-solving skills required in the natural sciences.
The test presents seven sets of scientific information,
each followed by a number of multiple-choice test questions.
The scientific information is conveyed in one of three differ-
ent formats: data representation (graphs, tables, and other
schematic forms), research summaries (descriptions of
several related experiments), or conflicting viewpoints
(expressions of several related hypotheses or views that are
inconsistent with one another). The questions require you to
recognize and understand the basic features of, and con-
cepts related to, the provided information; to examine
critically the relationship between the information provided
and the conclusions drawn or hypotheses developed; and to
generalize from given information to gain new information,
draw conclusions, or make predictions. The use of calcula-
tors is not permitted on the Science Test.
One score is reported for the ACT Science Test: a total
test score based on all 40 questions.
Tips for Taking the ACT Science Test
Pace yourself.
The ACT Science Test contains 40 questions to be
completed in 35 minutes. If you spend about 2 minutes read-
ing each passage, then you will have about 30 seconds to
answer each question. If possible, spend less time on the
passages and the questions and use the remaining time
allowed for this test to review your work and return to the
questions on this test that were most difficult for you.
Read the passage carefully.
Before you begin answering a question, read the scien-
tific material provided. It is important that you read the entire
text and examine any tables, graphs, or figures. You may
want to make notes about important ideas in the information
provided, either in the test booklet or on the scratch paper
provided. Some of the information sets will describe experi-
ments. You should consider the experimental design,
including the controls and variables, because questions are
likely to address this component of scientific research.
Note different viewpoints in passages.
Some material will present conflicting points of view,
and the questions will ask you to distinguish among the
various viewpoints. It may be helpful for you to make notes
summarizing each viewpoint, either next to that section in
your test booklet (or if you are testing outside the U.S., on
the scratch paper provided). For questions that ask you to
compare viewpoints, these notes will help you answer more
quickly.
Content Covered by the ACT Science Test
The content of the Science Test includes biology, chem-
istry, physics, and the Earth/space sciences (for example,
geology, astronomy, and meteorology). Advanced knowl-
edge in these subjects is not required, but knowledge
acquired in general, introductory science courses is needed
to answer some of the questions. The test emphasizes sci-
entific reasoning skills over recall of scientific content, skill in
mathematics, or reading ability. The scientific information is
conveyed in one of three different formats.
Data Representation (38%).
This format presents graphic
and tabular material similar to that found in science journals
and texts. The questions associated with this format mea-
sure skills such as graph reading, interpretation of scatter-
plots, and interpretation of information presented in tables.
Research Summaries (45%).
This format provides descrip-
tions of one or more related experiments. The questions
focus upon the design of experiments and the interpretation
of experimental results.
Conflicting Viewpoints (17%).
This format presents expres-
sions of several hypotheses or views that, being based on
differing premises or on incomplete data, are inconsistent
with one another. The questions focus upon the understand-
ing, analysis, and comparison of alternative viewpoints or
hypotheses.
ACT Writing Test (Optional)
If you register for the ACT Plus Writing, you will take the
ACT Writing Test (which must be completed in English) after
you complete the four multiple-choice tests. Taking the Writ-
ing Test will not affect your scores on the multiple-choice
tests or the Composite score for those tests. Rather, you will
receive two additional scores: a Combined English/Writing
score on a scale of 1 through 36 and a Writing subscore on
a scale of 2 through 12. You will also receive some com-
ments on your essay. And your essay will be available to
your high school and the colleges to which we report your
scores from that test date.
The Writing Test is a 30-minute essay test that mea-
sures your writing skills—specifically those writing skills
emphasized in high school English classes and in entry-level
college composition courses. The test consists of one writing
prompt that will define an issue and describe two points of
view on that issue. You are asked to write in response to a
question about your position on the issue described in the
writing prompt. In doing so, you may adopt one or the other
of the perspectives described in the prompt, or you may pre-
sent a different point of view on the issue. Your essay score
will not be affected by the point of view you take on the
issue. Prompts are designed to be appropriate for response
in a 30-minute timed test and to reflect students’ interests
and experiences.
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